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| Sunday, 21 April 2002 |
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Refugees in S. India to return by P. KRISHNASAMY Some 200,000 Sri Lankan refugees in South India are poised to return in a development that will remove an irritant in relations across the Palk Straits, officials told the 'Sunday Observer.' Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Minister Jayalath Jayawardena is already in contact with the authorities in Tamil Nadu via the Sri Lankan mission in Chennai in this regard. This large refugee population, which at one-time served as the base for separatist militant groups operating from across the Straits, is mainly located in Tamil Nadu with small numbers in neighbouring states. Minister Jayalath Jayawardena told the Sunday Observer that he was expecting a report from the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai on this matter. He will also hold consultations with Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe before proceeding to India. Meanwhile, a national survey of refugees and displaced persons, which is being conducted, will be finalised by mid-May, the Minister said. Rehabilitation and resettlement plans would be formulated thereafter. People of all communities will be given equal opportunities in the rehabilitation programmes. No refugee family will be resettled compulsorily without their consent, he emphasized. About 66,000 Sri Lankans remain in welfare centres and camps in Tamil Nadu and almost twice that number live outside the camps. According to a sample survey conducted by the local government authorities, a majority of the refugees were willing to return to their homes in the North and East. Commenting on the delay in resumption of road transport services on the Jaffna-Colombo A9 highway, re-opened for passenger traffic on April 8, the Minister said that there was no truth in the rumours that he was delaying the issue of route permits to prospective travel operators. He also denied that the LTTE was causing obstructions. "As a responsible Cabinet minister, it is my duty follow the procedure laid down under the MoU between the government and the LTTE to ensure the safety of the passengers," the Minister said. All applications for route permits have been submitted to the Peace Secretariat. Eventually they would be referred to the Norwegian facilitators for finalisation in consultation with the LTTE. The Minister assured that commercial road transport services on the A9 would operate as soon as possible. |
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